About this project

''Monster is Mr. MacIvor's suggestion that the dark side is as intrinsic to our natures as consciousness itself. It not only aspires to creeping you out, it also wants you to examine your own voyeuristic impulse to keep staring after the ax falls."
- The New York Times

"Avery Pearson is believable and frightening"
- Show Showdown

terraNOVA Collective &
Really Sketchy presents:

MONSTER
by Daniel MacIvor
Directed by Steve Cook
Performed by Avery Pearson
Lighting Design by Robin Paterson
Theatrical Consultant: Byron Laviolette

As part of the
7th Annual soloNOVA Arts Festival
Performance Space 122 (150 1st Ave at 9th Street)

Thursday, May 6 @ 9pm
Saturday, May 8 @ 9pm
Monday, May 10 @ 9pm
Saturday, May 15 @ 4pm
Tuesday, May 18 @ 9pm

for tickets, go to: www.terranovacollective.org

Emily Owens PR / emily@emilyowenspr.com / 972.743.3746

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The Rundown
Mr. MacIvor performed Monster in September of 1999 and, as a young theatre student, I was truly taken by the experience. Mr. MacIvor seamlessly dissected his way through the story of Adam Boyle and the human condition in Monster; he painted a vivid impression. This would continue to influence my own creativity during my formative artistic years and throughout my life.

Monster is not simply about one person's journey through a horrific, spine-tingling murder. It is not only about watching an actor morph into several diverse and interesting characters ranging from a dependent alcoholic, super-excited 10-year old boy who becomes enamored with violence, or a couple's fiery co-dependent feud. It is a revelatory theatrical experience that examines of the nature of evil and challenges the audience to question their own beliefs.

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The Festival:
Monster has been accepted into NYC-based terraNOVA Collective's 7th Annual soloNOVA Festival!

'The soloNOVA Arts Festival is the premier festival for solo performers in New York City. soloNOVA celebrates innovative individuals who push the boundaries of what it means to be an artist, aims to redefine the solo form and uniquely invigorates the audience through the time-honored tradition of storytelling. This year, eight performers round out the mainstage offerings.' - soloNOVA

The fabulously talented production team is listed with bios at the end of this message.

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The Challenge:
Producing a play as part of an established NYC festival takes a lot of time, devotion and financial backing. It is with great humility that I ask for your support in my quest to produce myself in my theatrical idol's masterpiece - Monster.

This production's budget is a very modest $2500 and includes funding for festival fees, performance rights, public relations, production personnel, lighting, sound, promotional materials (postcards, posters, online ads), and rehearsal space. This is a very low amount for producing a show and at the same time will fulfill the production requirements. Any funding exceeding this amount will go to enrich each element of production.

With your generous contributions, my dream will become a reality and more patrons will be exposed and influenced by this exquisite theatrical event.

Thank you for your time and consideration. See you at the show!

Warmest regards,

Avery Pearson
Producer, Really Sketchy
Shetler Studios | 244 West 54th Street, 12 fl. NYC, NY 10019
C: 917.692.0761 | O: 212.246.6655 | F: 212.295.1513
Avery@ReallySketchy.com | ReallySketchy.com

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The Monster Team:

A production team of celebrated and inspired artists has been assembled to create Monster in soloNOVA:

Daniel MacIvor (Playwright) was born in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia in 1962. He is a stalwart of the Canadian theatre scene, having written and directed numerous award-winning productions including “See Bob Run”, “Wild Abandon”, “2-2-Tango”, “This Is A Play”, “The Soldier Dreams”, “You Are Here”, “How It Works” and “A Beautiful View”. With long time collaborator Daniel Brooks, he created the solo performances “House”, “Here Lies Henry”, “Monster” and “Cul-de-sac”. Daniel’s play “Never Swim Alone” won the award for overall excellence at the New York Fringe in 1998 and in 2002, he won a GLAAD Award and a Village Voice Obie Award for his play “In On It”, which was presented at PS 122. His play “Marion Bridge” received its off-Broadway premiere in New York in October of 2005. From 1987-2007, with producing partner Sherrie Johnson, he ran da da kamera, a respected international theatre touring company that has brought his work to Australia, Israel, Europe, the UK, and extensively throughout Canada and the US.

Steve Cook (Director) is currently working as a movement teacher with Stella Adler Studios where he has directed over 30 plays. Mr. Cook was a member of the Chicago Ballet and the Houston Ballet. He appeared on Broadway in Doonesbury. Mr. Cook has taught for National Shakespeare Conservatory, National Theatre of the Deaf, and Ballet Diverte Mento De Montreal. He has been on the Adler Faculty since 1995.

Avery Pearson (Performer) please refer to profile column to the right.

Robin Paterson’s (Lighting Designer) international career spans more than 150 productions. Active in the creation of new works as a director, designer and producer, he has collaborated on more than 40 premieres. Recent designs include the New York premiere of FLYOVERS (78th Street Theatre Lab), featuring Michelle Pawk (Tony award-winner for HOLLYWOOD ARMS) and Richard Kind (THE PRODUCERS), and directed by Sandy Shinner (Associate Artistic Director of the Tony award-winning Victory Gardens Theater in Chicago); the American premiere of ANAIS NIN, ONE OF HER LIVES (Theatre Row), featuring Angela Christian (THE WOMAN IN WHITE, THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE); PIZZA MAN, under the direction of Austin Pendleton (UNCLE VANYA, ORSON'S SHADOW); the premiere of VAMPIRE UNIVERSITY (Ohio Theatre) at the Obie award-winning Ice Factory Festival; the premiere of A NEW TELEVISION ARRIVES, FINALLY (Theatre 54), featuring Tom Pelphrey; THAT DOROTHY PARKER (SoHo Playhouse); the German tour of MOZART A MILANO, featuring Michael Maniaci (Metropolitan Opera); A NIGHT IN NOVEMBER, directed by Peter Hinton (Artistic Director of the National Arts Center of Canada); and ENDGAME, directed by Guy Sprung, at the Cairo International Festival for Experimental Theatre. Based in New York, Robin's work has been featured in Berlin, Cairo, Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and countless regional centers across North America. Since September 2006, Robin has been the Managing Artistic Director of SHETLER STUDIOS & THEATRES in New York.

Byron Laviolette (Theatrical Consultant) is a Canadian playwright, director, dramaturge and critic who has been involved in theatre making and production for the last 20 years. Highlights include the world première of Waiting for Gilgamesh: Scenes from Iraq; Theatre du Refuse's five star run of The Hunt For Treasure in the Toronto Fringe and its remount in N.Y.C in 2007 with English Rose Productions; Morro and Jasp do Puberty with U.N.I.T. Productions as well as the Canadian Premiere of Reefer Madness at the Hart House Theatre in 2006. Byron is currently completing a PhD degree in Theatre Studies at York University, working on a dissertation on Canadian Theatre History and his criticism can be read frequently in EYE WEEKLY.

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